Brake pads EBC or OEM Volvo
I'm waiting for EBC brakes to come out with yellowstuff pads for the CX70/90; then I will get those!
A friend had a Cadillac ATS-V and putting EBC pads on it was a whole different thing, even on the Brembo 6 pot calipers.
The OE Brembo pads are "okay" and the EBC Blue Stuff will give you better bite though they're still dusty. I went with 2-piece rotors and Endless MX72+ pads.
My suggestions : Oil cooler, change break pads with ceramics (EBC redstuff), gallery gasket, replace half the exhaust line (the genuine rear silencer is a crime and heavy), rear tyres 285/35R19. Those things will make the car better, more reliable, safer (this car is 1.6t dry, you could be surprised with default brake attack) and widespread among Z lovers.
Now I’m a much happier camper with my EBC Yellowstuff’s.
EBC greenstuff pads have always been the best option for my style of driving. They don't fade like oem pads
I had the same problem with my 2024 XC90 and only driven it 3k miles in one year. The dealer replaced the brakes under warranty and the new pads are better. Honestly I think the brakes on such a heavy SUV underperform. Don’t believe the dealer, they said the same to me. Then I held my ground and said that this is a safety issue and not normal!
I had an 850R. It was great. However, two issues: the brakes were shit when they are hot (scarily so: I had a real squeaky bum moment when I tried to brake for a roundabout when I had be driving in an, er, *spirited* fashion*.* I mentioned this to a traffic cop and he said they always upgraded the brakes on 850s). However, unless you drive like a lunatic, I wouldn't have thought this was a major issue.
EBC is known as the Exploding Brake Company and they still live up to that name...
Just had new brakes put on my Volvo XC90 a few weeks ago (400 miles ago). They make a loud low pitch squeak when braking lightly. It’s terrible. These were installed by my Volvo dealer. Dealer says that’s just how it is. But I can’t imagine someone buying a new car with new brakes and having to deal with the same thing. Response from the dealer was “that’s just how it is”. Same response I got when I raised concerns about the cabin noise and weak AC.
Write your review
Help others - share your experience with this part.
Which brake pads to choose — EBC or OEM Volvo?
If choosing brake pads across many manufacturers, check the part ranking. If your choice is down to two brands, the PartReview part comparisons help.
We compare brake pads across these categories:
- PR Score.
- Overall ranking.
- Vote balance.
- Average rating.
- Number of reviews.
- Feature ratings.
- Car owners’ choice.
Which brake pads are better — OEM Volvo or EBC?
In March 2026 on PartReview, brake pads EBC were overall better than OEM Volvo.
- EBC received a PR Score of 77 out of 100, and OEM Volvo scored 63 points.
- EBC ranked 2 in the overall ranking, and OEM Volvo ranked 38.
- The average rating is higher for EBC (3.8) than for OEM Volvo (3.5).
-
Brake pads EBC have better feature ratings than OEM Volvo:
- Noise - owners believe, that this property for EBC is better than OEM Volvo.
- Braking - drivers claim, that this property for EBC is outperforms OEM Volvo.
- Dust - reviews suggest, that this property for EBC is preferred to OEM Volvo.
Which brake pads are more popular — EBC or OEM Volvo?
In March 2026 on PartReview, brake pads EBC were overall more popular than OEM Volvo.
By vote balance, brake pads EBC surpassed OEM Volvo:
- For EBC, the ratio of positive (1665) to negative (471) votes is 1194 votes.
- For OEM Volvo, the ratio of positive (64) to negative (37) votes is 27 votes.
By number of reviews, brake pads EBC surpassed OEM Volvo:
- For brake pads EBC there are 687 reviews: 504 positive, 78 neutral, 105 negative.
- For brake pads OEM Volvo there are 30 reviews: 14 positive, 11 neutral, 5 negative.
Which brake pads do car owners prefer — EBC or OEM Volvo?
In March 2026, according to PartReview, brake pads EBC led more car-specific ratings than OEM Volvo:
EBC are chosen by owners of cars such as: Alfa Romeo Giulia, Subaru BRZ, Volkswagen Gol, Audi A3, Audi S3, Audi S5, Audi SQ5, Audi TT RS, BMW Z4, Subaru Legacy, Toyota MR2, Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Tiguan, and others.
OEM Volvo are chosen by owners of cars such as: Volvo S60, Volvo XC60, and others.
Other comparisons of brake pads
If this comparison didn’t fully answer your question, there are many others on PartReview.
For example, comparisons of brake pads EBC with: POWER STOP, Akebono, Hawk Performance, Brembo, Ferodo, OEM Volkswagen, Bosch, STOPTECH, Carbotech, Mintex.
Also available: comparisons of brake pads OEM Volvo with: POWER STOP, Akebono, Hawk Performance, Brembo, Ferodo, OEM Volkswagen, Bosch, STOPTECH, Carbotech, Mintex.
You can also see who is better among other brake pads manufacturers: EBC or POWER STOP, EBC or Akebono, EBC or Hawk Performance, Brembo or EBC, Akebono or POWER STOP.